Sunday, 14 August 2011

Brewood - Norton Junction - Market Drayton

We left Brewood on Saturday mid morning as we were not planning a long cruise, the Shroppie is straight compared to most canals, with embankments and cuttings, you have to be impressed by both, considering that these were done with hand tools. Only one lock at Wheaton Aston where we also used the services. We moored for the day at Norbury after passing through Cowley Tunnel. Cheese Boat 2 was moored at Norbury Junction, after sampling the cheeses on offer we decided to go for an offer of 3 for £10 as we couldn't just decided on just one to buy. We finally managed to get a copy of Canal Boat magazine, we wanted to read the review and look at the pictures of NB Chance as we knew they had made the front cover. Well done Doug & James! We went for a meal in the Junction Inn, it was very good although we both had the 'junction steak pie' and one between us would have been enough, they were huge.

After bacon butties (Sunday treat) this morning we set off, again not planning for a long cruise. Our plan was to moor above Tyrley Locks, but when we arrived the moorings were all taken, so we descended the 5 locks. and have moored half way between the locks and Market Drayton. We were treated to a little concert when we moored, someone the boat in front, was playing a saxophone with accompaniment from other instruments, very good they were too but we haven't seen who they were. We have been for a walk around Market Drayton this evening,